Opening Night for Dead Man Walking
Dead Man Walking the play opened last night for the first time in any theater in the world and I am thrilled to say that it opened with the presence of Sister Helen Prejean who wrote the book and collaborated with Tim Robbins for the play. Susan Sarandon (who won an Oscar for her role of Sister Helen in the movie) and Sean Penn (nominated for an Oscar for his role as the killer, Mathew Poncelet) were all in attendance at the event. While I would love to say that these big stars sought me out after the play to say what an incredible job I had done on providing video for the play, I do know that several others afterward were very pleased with the death scene in particular (I hope that wasn't a spoiler).
The director came to me afterward and told me that the play was made infintely better (this is not a direct quote) because of the work we had done on it.
I think the play is a stunning view into several aspects of the death penalty and indeed covers all sides of the equation, though admittedly with a pretty serious slant towards being against it. Ultimately it is important to keep things like this in the minds of people because it is not an issue we should just make a snap judgement on because the ramifications are permanent. I did my part in the play because I believe that we should be thinking about it as a society. This play does not offer answers, it offers the question and it offers points of view from all sides. See it with a grain of salt and then think about it and make up your own mind.
Thanks to Mike Elkin, the director, for choosing me out of all the people and companies who wanted to be part of this. I know we are not the least expensive company out there and I know that was a big concern, but now you know why we are worth it.
Thanks also to Jim Hatlo and Dustin Cooper. Without the skill and creativity these two showed on the video shoot to Alcatraz I sent them on, the project would have been far less. And the phenomenal shots taken by them at the death scene allowed me to create the best 3 minutes of video I have ever done. When the play is over I will post that video here (hopefully with some of the audio from the play).
Go the the website for NDNU and Dead Man Walking
¶ 9:10 AM
10.19.2004
Dead Man Walking Part 2
Three people crammed into a multimedia studio (even spaces as big as our studio seem small after a night like this one) for 12 hours walk away to produce (and I mean this wholeheartedly) the most awesome, significant, powerful, moving, stunnning pieces of multimedia ever. Three of us (Jim Hatlo, Dustin Cooper, and me, Rusty Worden), have been putting together the video and static image elements for the play ALL NIGHT LONG.
The multimedia/video for the play, "Dead Man Walking" is almsot done (just waiting for rendering) and I have watched it three times... and have been moved emotionally by it three times. I don't think I could have done a better job unless I had more time to work on it. It is one of those rare instances where I had a vision in my mind of exactly what I wanted and it came out exactly as I had hoped. For once, I am not disappointed in the least in anyway with a creative work I have done. It is almost depressing to think that if I touch it again, I may mess something up.
Please contact us if you are thinking of going to the play at the University of Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, CA. We are so happy they chose us to do this for them.!
¶ 5:06 AM
10.05.2004
Dead Man Walking
Simply Interactive llc. has been chosen tio handle the multimedia, and video needs for the production of Dead Man Walking, a play by Tim Robbins adapted off the movie starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.
We are honored to have been chosen for this ground breaking event as the College of Notre Dame is the first college or theater to perform this production. We will be involved in the production of the play as well as documenting the play itself.
Come see it at the Notre Dame De Namur University Theatre on:
10-21 through 10-24
10-28 through 10-31
As well as additional showings in the first weeks of November.
Please contact us if you have nay further questions.
¶ 1:23 PM
10.01.2004
October 16th Bridal Show
Greetings! Our 2005 year is starting to fill up with excited new brides who are being very proactive in the planning stages. Simply Interactive exhibits at several bridal shows every year, but one of our all-time favorites is hosted by the Great Bridal Expo.
Event date: Saturday Oct 16, 2004
Show time: 12:00 NOON
Address: San Francisco Concourse 635 Eighth Street San Francisco, CA 94103
We really hope to see you there. Planning for the a wedding takes time and patience and Bridal shows are fantastic ways to see numerous vendors in one location on one day.
¶ 8:24 AM
Wedding and Corporate Video Blog for clients and potential clients of the award-winning Simply Interactive llc. Your stop for visual media, capture and design.
Wedding
and Event DJ Dot Com This is one of Simply
Interactive's favorite resources. This
site will help you find anything you
would need for your wedding video and
helps weed out the fly-by-night operations.
Wedding
Links Galore! This is a great resource
as well. Tons of links for different
wedding vendor types and broken down
by geographic theatre.
Party Pop
This is a
huge database
of tons
of wedding
service
providers
By Recommendation
Only
This is a
website that
lists vendors
ONLY if they
have been
referred
by
one of their
clients.
REFERR
US!
Approved
Photographer Links
Mark
Stagi -
Fine Art
Wedding
Photography
Mark and I have worked together several times and one
thing that stands out aside from his actual photography
skill (which speaks for itself on his website) is his
awesome, confident, calm and unobtrusive personality
and shooting style. Every time we work together I am
reminded of how cool and confident he is. Check out
his website - he's a great guy!
Anna
Myers Photography I
have worked
with Anna
Myers twice
and have
recommended
her for corporate
jobs as well.
Both times
I worked
with her
I was stunned
at her creativity,
her ability
to get stunning
shots and
work with
ct he bride
and groom
in a comfortable,
non-stress
inducing
way. When
I work with
Anna our
video work
and our synergy
together
to create
great shots
allows both
of us to
walk away
with some
extremely
glamorous
images.
Geoff White Photography While
I have yet
to work with
Geoff, I
have seen
his work
countless
times at
bridal shows
(our booths
are constantly
near each
other). Tremendous
quality every
time I see
his new array.
You can tell
how creative
this man
is by looking
at the effort
put into
his show
booth alone...
but once
you get sucked
into his
photo albums,
you'll likely
do everything
possible
to get him
as your photographer.
Jill
Johnson @ Insza Photography This girl was absolutely
wonderful to work with. She works very
well with everyone and even amidst the
mayhem of a wedding where an entire
TV crew was trying to muscle through
the hired service providers, she still
made sure she got everything the couple
wanted.
Darren
Wong Darren
and Simply
Interactive
have worked
together
on a couple
weddings
and has one
of the highest
skill levels
we have seen.
His compositions
and quality
are impeccable
-- matched
only by
his top-notch
equipment.
Approved
DJ Links
San Jose DJs DJ Earl is an excessively helpful
individual. His dedication to his clients means he
is willing to go above the call of duty to make things
flow smoothly.
Fog City Entertainment Russ Catanach is just plain
awesome! Every time I do a wedding with him he
is always prepared. He is smooth, suave, and professional
without being humdrum or frustratingly boring. He
reads crowds well, and guides the party along. I
could not recommend them more.
Carl
Mindling Music
This gentleman is a fantastic DJ - smooth, professional,
entertaining. Aside from his technical quality, this
was one of the most easy going and in-control DJs I've
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pressure - with the same eloquence.
Approved
Venue Links
Nestledown
Estates
There are
no words
that can
describe
the beauty
and serenity
of this place.
We are proud
to have been
able to shoot
there.
Capital Athletics Club - San Jose Despite
the name,
this is
a beautifully
designed
building,
inside
and out.
Great Service
and wonderful
bar/pool
table/fireplace.
Great ambiance
with vaulted
ceilings
in a victorian
interior
decor.
Palmdale
Estates - Fremont Palmdale
Estates is
a beautifully
landscaped
spacious
venue location
that uses
beautifully
designed
two-story
halls for
the reception.
Ceremonies
are outdoors
on lawns.
Byington
Winery
- Los Gatos Definitely one of
my favorite spots. The ceremony area
is at the top of a set of brick steps
and surrounded by grape vines and gorgeous,
Los Gatos hills covered in hundred year
old forest trees. The reception area
is inside of a magnificent building
covered in ivy. Indoors are huge tanks
and an immense cellar houses hundreds
of oak barrels for aging wine. Great
stuff for video and photo.
Approved
Limo Links
White Hat Limo
I can tell
you this
about White
Hat Limo,
when it
came time
to hire
a limo
service
for my
6th anniversary,
White Hat
Limo was
the first
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called.
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